Signal Hill man given two life sentences in killings of Long Beach and Whittier men

LONG BEACH >> A Signal Hill man found guilty in July of killing two friends more than a decade apart was given two life sentences in Long Beach court Friday.

Jeffrey Keith Means, 49, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on one count of first-degree murder and life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years on a count of second-degree murder. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison because he has two prior strikes, and two additional years in prison because of his use of weapons during the killings.

Means was convicted in July for the December 2007 killing of 67-year-old Long Beach resident Ronald Henry and the June 1996 killing of 48-year-old Hal Shaw of Whittier.

Throughout the trial, prosecutor Julian Recana argued that Means killed the two men for petty cash and that the two killings — with no signs of forced entry and no ransacking of either victim’s residence — were strikingly similar.

Stephanie Henry-Ball, Ronald Henry’s daughter, addressed the court, recalling that her father was killed a short time before Christmas in 2007 and shortly after her second son was born.

“(My son) will turn 7 this year and every birthday is a reminder that he’s no longer here,” Henry-Ball said. “Dad, I will always love you.”

She cried and hugged her mother, Jackie Henry.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gary Ferrari also ordered Means to pay $6,900 to the state’s restitution fund, and to pay an additional $1,500 to Stephanie Henry-Ball, Ronald Henry’s daughter, to help offset the cost of his funeral.

Matthew Charney, Means’ attorney, said he intends to file an appeal.

Means’ family members were in court Friday but did not make statements.

Garrett Henry, Ronald Henry’s son, told the court that he and his father had rekindled their relationship through Henry’s Catering, which Ronald Henry owned.

Means was an employee before the murder.

Garrett said he continues to operate the business to honor his father and that he hopes Means can find forgiveness.

“I do pray ... that God will forgive,” he said. “Vengeance is not mine. Justice has been served.”